DYKES

Leon Henry Dykes, 84, passed away Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, at Riverside Medical Center.

He was born in Franklinton on June 30, 1929, to John and Angelena Sumrall Dykes, and he grew up in Franklinton. He attended school in Thomas and Pine, and later received his degree while in the U.S. Army, having enlisted in 1952. He served in the Korean War and was discharged in 1954 with an honorable discharge after two years of service.

He attended trade school and became a welder. After several years as a welder he became a cross-country truck driver, and he retired from Conoco in 1992. He was brought up in a Christian home, attending Lawrence Creek Baptist Church as a child, and later attending Grace Missionary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Guy; his parents, John and Angelena Sumrall Dykes; and five sisters and their spouses, Ollie and J.L. Lanford, Corine and Murray Creel, Rosetta and Shelly J. Miller, Ophelia and L.L. McElveen and Johnnie Pearl.

He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia Dykes (Jimmy) Guy of Franklinton and Crystal Dykes (Bennie) Alldread of Grenada, Miss.; three grandchildren and spouses, Amanda Guy (Lade) Bateman, James Andrew (Ashley Schilling) Guy and Annsley Alldread; two great-grandchildren, Hunter C. Bateman and Maicee M. Bateman; two sisters-in-law, Hester Taylor Dykes and Charlene Tullos Dykes; 11 nieces, Ernestine Miller, Carolyn Lebo, Lena Leonard, Peggy Strickland, Deborah Coyne, Rita Graves, Tina Spencer, Mary Statham, Janie Booty, Linda Miller and Lynette McElveen; six nephews, Charles Lanford, John Creel, James Creel, John Allen Dykes, Russell Miller and Ronald McElveen; and numerous great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

“Thank you, daddy, for so many memories. You were a good dad, uncle, brother and paw paw. You will be missed until we meet again in heaven.”

Visitation was held Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Grace Missionary Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. J.W. Graves officiating. Burial followed in the Hezekiah Magee Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Jimmy Guy, Andy Guy, Tommy Guy, Slade Bateman, Kelvin Miller and Joe Duncan. Honorary pallbearers were Douglas Guy, John Earl Creel, Charles Lanford, Ronald McElveen and Russell Miller.

Crain Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.